Which trailer brand has best paint finish?

[AaronD81]

Looking for a 10k lb car hauler with wood deck that will be stored outside. I’ve seen lightly used trailers with way more rust than I’d expect. Brands that Seem well built, are within budget and have features I want include Sure-Trac, Diamond C (20% more than others), Lamar. Won’t be used hard so weathering will be an issue because I’m not going to wear it out with use. Aluminum is at least 50% more, will it last enough longer than steel to consider it?

 

[Hay Dude]

I dont think trailer paint jobs are up to the standards they should be, but then again to make them last, they'd cost more and trailer prices already insane.
Also if you can get your trailer under roof and avoid using in winter on salted roads., it’ll help.
Not a big fan of powder coated trailers-prefer good primer & finish coating process.
Diamond C makes a high quality trailer, but I don’t know if they're paint process is any better.

 

[Redlands Okie]

No way I can tell you which one of those has the best paint job. To many variables and lack of knowledge on my part of the various manufactures processes. One think I have learned is that the powder coat paints are a great product, IF they are applied correctly. Problem is that it seems its quite common that they are not applied correctly.

 

[Rebeldad1]

if you arnt in a hurry order your trailer. give them a gallon of the paint you would want on your trailer. or if they are too far away...request they use it

 

[timswi]

Whatever you do, don't get a powder coated trailer. Mine looked like a million bucks when new but one rock chip creates a mess that's very hard to fix.

 

[nisaacs]

if you arnt in a hurry order your trailer. give them a gallon of the paint you would want on your trailer. or if they are too far away...request they use it

That is not going to happen unless the manufacturer is a mom and pop. Any of the big outfits have paint/powder coat booths....

 

[AaronD81]

So CAM Superline uses "expoy primer polyurethane pain finish" on a car trailer that has features I want that is similarly priced to the Sure Trac. Seems like a pretty big brand that I've seen around, but no experience. Any opinions on CAM?

 

[AaronD81]

So this is way more complicated than I expected. CAM is out, spoke to a very helpful factory rep that said car hauler shouldn't be used for equipment like mini ex or skid loader because weight would be too concentrated even if under limit. Buying a trailer that won't break is more important than finish. Lamar seems to make the strongest car hauler with C channel cross members, which can be optioned at 16" centers.

 

[nisaacs]

Lamar is a quality trailer. 16" centered crossmembers are standard with 12" as an option. Some of the economy trailers go as wide as 24". Just so you can see some paint as it ages some, here are some pictures. The Lamar was built in 2-18, the Load Max (same as Load Trail) 5-16. Both powder coat.

 

[Will S]

I went to look at 5 or 6 different brands before I made my decision. I bought a Lamar. 3 years, it has held up very well, with the exception of just the edges of the diamond plate fenders, and edges of the battery/storage box. The powder coating there is probably too thin to hold up long term, but as it turns out, Rustoleum dark gray (quart can is what I bought) is just about a perfect match for the Lamar gray powder coat.

I would rather had an outstanding design, including no stitch welds, and high quality workmanship, than a shiny paint job on a trailer that is not as strong structurally or has poor workmanship, like the PJ Trailers I looked at. I think my 13 y/o grandson could do better welding than some of those PJ's. I'll just go ahead and sand and paint Rustoleum gray on the edges of the sheet metal where it's starting to show.

 

[nyone]

Becids paint another thing to stay away from is any box tube in a trailer. You can never seal it enough and you cant paint inside the tube. So your left with a steel tube that's rotting out from the inside.

I'm wool waxing the underside of my trailers now. I just bought a new Appalachian trailer and fully expect to flip it over and scrape/wire brush and paint it in 8-10yrs.

Another issue is with Pressure treated decking nearly anything that touches it will rust or corrode.

 

[Bearsixty7]

2023 East Texas 102" X 24' CAR HAULER/EQUIPMENT 14K Car Hauler | TX Trailer Sales in Petty TX | Trailer Dealer Near Fort Worth TX | Best Price Equipment Flatbed Utility Trailers in Fort Worth TX

<p>102" X 24' CAR HAULER/EQUIPMENT 14K<br /> 2-7,000 LB DEXTER AXLES 2 ELEC. BRAKES<br /> 2' WOOD DOVE<br /> 6' SLIDE IN RAMPS OUT THE BACK (24' AND UP ONLY)<br /> 3/16" DIAMOND PLATE DRIVE OVER FENDERS (STANDARD ON 102" WIDE)</p><br /> <p>14,000 LB G.V.W.R.</p><br /> <p>2-7,000 LB DE

www.txtrailersales.net

They can custom build for you in a few weeks too.

1 COAT OF PRIMER AND 2 COATS OF POLYURETHANE PAINT (PAINTED UNDERNEATH)

 

[AaronD81]

Ended up with Diamond C. 3" I beam crossmembers on 16" centers and 6k lb axles for only $500 more than the others was the tie breaker. But also got toolbox, and d rings that were extras on the others. This one also has a somewhat unique frame with integrated tongue so deck is lower for easier loading. Also seems like things are slowing down a bit, manufacturer had a rebate so the price difference was less than expected. Powdercoated, but they claim to do a lot more prep work (I don't know much about powdercoat but seems good), video explaining it linked below. Anyway, that's the update and conclusion.

 

[Jchonline]

Looking for a 10k lb car hauler with wood deck that will be stored outside. I’ve seen lightly used trailers with way more rust than I’d expect. Brands that Seem well built, are within budget and have features I want include Sure-Trac, Diamond C (20% more than others), Lamar. Won’t be used hard so weathering will be an issue because I’m not going to wear it out with use. Aluminum is at least 50% more, will it last enough longer than steel to consider it?

Who cares? An angle grinder and a bit of paint...maybe a few hours and you are done. I would be much more concerned about the rest of the trailer (steel thickness, welds, axle quality, brakes, wiring, etc).

 

[Will S]

Nice trailer. I like.

 

[Hay Dude]

Ended up with Diamond C. 3" I beam crossmembers on 16" centers and 6k lb axles for only $500 more than the others was the tie breaker. But also got toolbox, and d rings that were extras on the others. This one also has a somewhat unique frame with integrated tongue so deck is lower for easier loading. Also seems like things are slowing down a bit, manufacturer had a rebate so the price difference was less than expected. Powdercoated, but they claim to do a lot more prep work (I don't know much about powdercoat but seems good), video explaining it linked below. Anyway, that's the update and conclusion.

View attachment 769761

Is that from Fayette Trailers?
They are nice people

Not a fan of powercoating. It seems to flake off if applied incorrectly.


Bottom line with what I’ve seen in 30 years of trailer ownership is all their paint jobs pretty much suck. They look good for 3-5 years. After that, its downhill.

 

[AaronD81]

Who cares? An angle grinder and a bit of paint...maybe a few hours and you are done. I would be much more concerned about the rest of the trailer (steel thickness, welds, axle quality, brakes, wiring, etc).

It would be stupid not to care. I’m buying a new trailer with lots of manufacturer options, if there’s two that meet my needs why not get the one with the better finish and avoid hours of grinding and painting?

 

[AaronD81]

Is that from Fayette Trailers?
They are nice people

Not a fan of powercoating. It seems to flake off if applied incorrectly.


Bottom line with what I’ve seen in 30 years of trailer ownership is all their paint jobs pretty much suck. They look good for 3-5 years. After that, its downhill.

Yes from Fayette, very nice will go back if I need anything else. Powder coat seems pretty common so it was hard to avoid, we will see how it holds up.

 

[Jchonline]

It would be stupid not to care. I’m buying a new trailer with lots of manufacturer options, if there’s two that meet my needs why not get the one with the better finish and avoid hours of grinding and painting?

All else being equal yes. But my point was to make sure everything else IS equal. The important stuff. You didnt ask about any other parts of the trailer, so I assume you already know all of that?

 

[Jchonline]

So this is way more complicated than I expected. CAM is out, spoke to a very helpful factory rep that said car hauler shouldn't be used for equipment like mini ex or skid loader because weight would be too concentrated even if under limit. Buying a trailer that won't break is more important than finish. Lamar seems to make the strongest car hauler with C channel cross members, which can be optioned at 16" centers.

Wait you want a car hauler that also handles heavy equipment?